Uzbekistan Claims 18 Children Died After Consuming India-Made Cough Syrup

Uzbekistan: Eighteen children in Uzbekistan have died, suffering from side effects of a cough syrup manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company, the Uzbek health ministry stated. The news brought back the horror of the death of nearly 70 kids in Gambia allegedly due to an Indian brand of cough syrup.

The Uzbekistan Health Ministry said the children had been administered the Dok 1 Max Syrup produced by Noida-based Marion Biotech Limited. The Dok 1 Max syrup and tablets are anti-cold medication.

“On the fact of death of 18 children, which occurred as a result of taking the drug Doc-1 Max, a criminal case was initiated against officials of Quramax Medical (importer of the drug) and State Center for Expertise and Standardization of Medicines… under Article 186-3 of the Criminal Code (Violation of the order of retail sale of medicines containing potent substances),” the SSS said in a statement quoted by UrduPoint News / Sputnik from Tashkent.

Syrups should not contain even traces of ethylene glycol, which is found in industrial grade of glycerine that is forbidden in medicines. In the Gambia case too, these compounds were alleged to have been present in the cough syrups, which were manufactured by India’s Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

For medical use, Glycerine IP, or Indian Pharmacopoeia, grade is permitted, according to Scroll. Compounds like ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol can cause convulsions, vomiting, and acute renal failure. It can also affect the circulatory system.

According to the Uzbekistan health ministry, the kids who died consumed 2.5 ml to 5 ml of the cough syrup at home three to four times a day. This is, however, higher than the standard prescribed dose of the cough syrup.

Immediately after the news of the fatalities came to the fore, the Uzbekistan government ensured that all tablets and cough syrups of Dok 1 are withdrawn from sale.